Would you consider Naperville to be the #1 place for young people who aren't in the city? (Chicago: for sale, good schools)

[rulesforrebelsdotcom]

Would you consider Naperville to be the top place to live for a young professional who doesn't want to live in the city?

[chicagojlo]

It would depend on what you call the city, what your interests where, what your lifestyle is like - no place is perfect for everyone.

[ajolotl]

Originally Posted by rulesforrebelsdotcom

Would you consider Naperville to be the top place to live for a young professional who doesn't want to live in the city?

I'd say it's AMONG the top choices for a young professional who both doesn't want to live in the city and doesn't have a number of sensibilities that would attract them to other very nice suburbs with features that Naperville is lacking (and without some features that Naperville possesses). It isn't as simple as your statement implies.

[loneranger456]

Naperville is a nice place to live and probably the best in the burbs. You have the downtown area with shops, good restaurants, and bars; and then you have route 59 that has everything you need (mall,stores, restuarants, bars, etc) and Ogden has tons as well.

Don't speed or drive drunk in Naperville. NPD is always around the corner waiting and watching for their next victim.

[rulesforrebelsdotcom]

Originally Posted by loneranger456

Naperville is a nice place to live and probably the best in the burbs. You have the downtown area with shops, good restaurants, and bars; and then you have route 59 that has everything you need (mall,stores, restuarants, bars, etc) and Ogden has tons as well.

Don't speed or drive drunk in Naperville. NPD is always around the corner waiting and watching for their next victim.

I'd be curious to hear others suggestions for burbs vying for the top spots?

Loneranger made some great points. Not only do you have the downtown Naperville, bars, restaurants, and shops, you also have a ton of stuff along the Rt 59 corridor and your really not far from Lisle and or Downers Grove which have some cool stuff as well.

Being near Naperville its easy to get spoiled and say it's not that great but really looking at many other burbs they maybe have one cool bar or even if they have a few they are spread out forcing you to drive all around which isn't safe and you risk a DUI if your not careful about your alcohol intake.

Downtown Naperville is kidn of a rarity in teh burbs in terms of having that many decent bars within walking distance. I heard they recently got an all ngiht diner too which Naperville was lacking.

I just figured in terms of a young person not wanting to live in the city Naperville is a pretty decent choice with lots of bars, restauratns adn nightlife, close to train, close to expressway, nearby other decent burbs, good libraries, parks, etc. Also, another nice thing is it's got good schools and is a good place to raise to raise a family so if you bought something as a young professional you also have the option to stay there even after getting married and having kids as opposed to some people who live in the city but plan on moving out to the burbs to start a family.

[TempesT68]

as far as nightlife is concerned in the burbs it's tough to beat naperville. The downtown area is loaded with bars all within walking distance of eachother, unless you're more into the club scene then schaumburg takes the cake there.

[chitown85]

Naperville is highly underrated in my opinion. As others have stated, which I will only sum up, Naperville has great bars, restaurants, libraries, and schools (for when kids come along). The only two negatives with Naperville are the lack of public transit and it is self contained.

You must have a car to get around Naperville. There are few buses, no L, and no cabs (for the most part). So when you go out, it makes it tough because of the dangers of drinking and driving.

Naperville is self contained. Most of the young profs in the area live in Naperville, Lombard, and Lisle. You will likely see the same people out all the time. There really is no movement in terms of who goes to Naperville. In Chicago, you can go to a few bars on a parallel block and see a whole new crowd of people. You can go to the same bar each week and see a whole new crowd of people.

The other big nightlife suburban areas are Evanston, Arlington Heights, and Oak Park, in that order in my opinion. Evanston has the public transit and walkability advantages, but at least from what I have seen, is very college like due to NU. AH also has the self containment problem and its nightlife scene is small, but far better than 90% of the burbs. I used to like the idea of Oak Park for young professionals, but the problem is getting into the city at night and back is dangerous on the L.

[ajolotl]

I don't agree that Naperville is underrated. It is nice and everyone seems aware of it.

The big thing one would miss in Naperville is any sense of an edge. Lots of commerce but overall a very soft and suburban feel. For people who like this it is top notch, though they still might prefer one of the smaller nearby suburbs that is more quaint and less sprawling, or someplace closer to the lake and with more history. But Naperville will put off others who like the international and interracial flavor of more classically urban suburbs, more starving artist types, eccentrics or whatever mixed in with upper-income people (like those mentioned above -- Oak Park and Evanston are the classic examples). Kind of depends on your taste.

[loneranger456]

plus with Naperville you are in Dupage and have less taxes than Crook!

[chitown85]

Originally Posted by loneranger456

plus with Naperville you are in Dupage and have less taxes than Crook!

Correct for sales tax. DuPage property tax is generally higher than Cook, especially Chicago and inner burbs.